In World War 2, key RAAF personnel were already serving in Britain or Canada. When war in the Pacific broke out, the RAAF formed the Voluntary Air Observers Corps, and provided plotting facilities for them to operate. One of these was in the Toowoomba City Hall.
Australia wide these units broadened the RAAF’s ability to foresee possible foreign invasion and act accordingly. Volunteers came from employees of essential services, or when a person’s age prevented them from enlisting
This photo of an aircraft recognition chart was taken in the Toowoomba unit of the Volunteer Air Observers Corps. They were also printed on playing card size cards (one aircraft per card) which were distributed Australia – wide in rural and metropolitan areas, hoping as many people as possible would become freelance spotters. Any information that they gathered could be conveyed by the telephone exchange to the local VAC unit.
Information and image kindly provided by Toowoomba local Ron Gallagher.
